Cost Segregation

This blog post has been researched, edited, and approved by John Hanning and Brian Wages. Join our newsletter below.

What is Cost Segregation?

Cost Segregation is a valuable strategy to increase cash flow and reduce income taxes for commercial property owners. The tax benefits of cost segregation can be applied to various types of real estate: apartments, assisted living/nursing homes, auto dealerships, office buildings, restaurants, manufacturing, hotels, medical buildings, retail space and others. The process of Cost Segregation segregating 1245 personal property components 1250 land improvements from the real property of a building, resulting in depreciable lives of 5, 7 and 15 years using accelerated depreciation


Beyond accelerated deductions the Tangible Property Regulations (TPR) allow taxpayers to write off disposed building components as a partial disposition. A cost segregation carves out building components so that a taxpayer can easily identify the deductible cost after a renovation.


Types of Transactions

  • New Construction
  • Property Acquisition 
  • Renovations or Expansion
  • Leasehold Improvements
  • Real Property Step-Up

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July 14, 2025
Changing your accounting method can unlock massive tax savings, but only if you file Form 3115 correctly. This IRS form lets you switch from your current depreciation method to reflect the results of a later cost segregation, potentially saving you tens of thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of dollars on your taxes. Here's exactly how to do it right. What Exactly Is Form 3115 and Why Does It Matter? Form 3115 is the IRS's "Application for Change in Accounting Method." Think of it as your official request to change how you depreciate business assets, especially when you want to implement cost segregation studies on your previously acquired properties. Here's why this matters: When you originally filed your taxes, you probably depreciated your entire building over 27.5 years (residential) or 39 years (commercial). But with cost segregation, you can reclassify portions of that building into 5, 7, and 15-year property categories, dramatically accelerating your depreciation. The numbers speak for themselves. A cost segregation study on a $13.5 million retail shopping center purchased in 2021 generated $1,168,876 in tax savings in the first year alone. That's the power of properly executed accounting method changes.
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